Parque Nacional Cajas

25 April 2012 | El Cajas National Park, Ecuador

Phoebe

While in Cuenca we took a day trip to a very beautiful park. The drive out was spectacular and well worth the effort of the winding mountain roads.

The Parque Nacional Cajas (Cajas National Park) is a national park in the highlands of Ecuador. It is located about 30 km west from Cuenca, the capital of the province of Azuay. The area of 285.44 km² (28,544 ha) between 3100m and 4450m above sea level offers a tundra vegetation on a jagged landscape of hills and valleys. It was declared a National Park on November 5, 1996.

The name "Cajas" is derived from the “Quichua” word "cassa" meaning "gateway to the snowy mountains” or "caxa" for “cold”. It has also been linked to the Spanish word "cajas" meaning “boxes”. These are indentations where the water forms lakes and lagoons.

The vegetation was amazing, tiny miniature like plants that reminded me of Alpine tundra. While we were there we feel quite strongly we saw the elusive South American Condor flying very high above (apparently they are very endangered and there is only about 80 surviving today). I did take a few pics but as the birds were so far away they did not turn out well. They also could have been the Cuiriquinga which is a black and white raptor. Too hard for us to tell for sure but they definitely were not vultures because of the elevation.

We really enjoyed the hike we took to the lake. This is a great place to camp if you can stand the cold!!!! Reg had difficulty with altitude sickness again so elected to stay back and visit the museum on site.

Some pics of our stay. We started at Two Rock Bay but I did not take any pictures there. Janet took them and posted them on Facebook for my birthday. Mongonissi and Lakka were anchorages on our way to Corfu

A few picks of our LONG stay while waiting for the issue of the windlass to be resolved. Really did not take any pictures at all in the Gulf. The town of Vonitsa was interesting including the gypsy-romano festival where they sold rides on their horses and barbecued whole roasted pigs. This was obviously an annual tradition that people enjoyed.

We had quite a few stops here in there where I did not take pictures. We actually went to Preveza twice. Preveza was the town we checked out of Greece on April 28, 2017. Unfortunately because of the windlass issues, weather etc we actually did not leave Greece until May 15th, Yikes!!!

The Grand Finale. My final album and blog post. Hope you all enjoyed them even though they were a whole year behind!!!! Even though we had been to these places before we still enjoyed them the second time around

Some pics from our stay in Rhodes and the island of Alimia. Rhodes was fascinating but very touristy even at that time of year. We were lucky to get a spot in the anchorage. Had a very hairy time actually med mooring as we are so inexperienced. Thanks to a neighbour from Switzerland who helped us tie up I am not sure we would have stayed!! Alimia was a totally different experience. Abandoned before the WWII because of the Germans it lies mostly untouched. Locals still come to the two churches that are there and fishermen used to live in some of the abandoned homes during fishing season.

A few pics of our final stop in Turkey, Dacta where we checked out. A fantastic place with an amazing walk along the water. Lots of resorts here and obviously very touristy in season. We did chat with our check out agent a bit and he did indicate that things were slow and they were expecting a poor season. There was a great market. This is a place I would have like to have spent more time as it was very low key and friendly. This is the spot where we also said goodbye to Shiela from Britain. Shield now lives in Turkey near Marmaris full time. We met Shiela on a tour to Istanbul and enjoyed her company. Shiela helped us a lot in finding dentists and things we need in the city.

Some pics of our quick trip from Bozburun to Symi (Greece) for a little provision run of things you can get in Greece but not Turkey. Had a great bus trip to the town from the anchorage at Panormitis which we had been to earlier..

Winding up our final days in Turkey. Had a great hike from the marina in Marmaris, We then left for Gerbeksi (a patrol boat came through the anchorage around 2 am to look for refugees, they did not find any but sure scared us, haha). After that travelled to Bozburun where Ian joined us.

Reg spent the better part of six weeks back at Three Sheets while I looked after stuff in Canada. Reg worked hard at getting the boat shipshape and he had help and helped lots of folks in the marina. We did a little side trip with Janet & Paul and Sal and John to a few spots just to work out any kinks. It was great to go as Janet & Paul and been in this area before so knew where to go. This spot in the summer is extremely busy so we were glad to have been able to experience it without the masses.

We stopped for a few days with our friends Ian and Diana in Reigate England. I was heading to Canada and Reg was heading back to Three Sheets in Marmaris Turkey. We had a great few very quick sightseeing days. We visited Portsmouth to see the HMS Victory, Admiral Nelson's ship, HMS Warrior, the New Forest Ponies and various other spots.

A few pics of a day on our own, again took the train in, was great. Enjoyed the tower, so huge we barely had enough time to see it all (in fact we probably didn't). Great day in the big city of London!!

A few more pics of a day in London spent on our host Diana. Took the train in from Reigate and just walked around. I was pleased to be able to see the Changing of the Horse Guards. I just can't imagine what that would be like to just have to sit there for so long and then all of the pomp around changing to a new set of guards!!!

Three Sheets is for sale so these are some pics of her. We have owned her for five years and sailed Three Sheets from San Diego, California to her current location in Marmaris, Turkey. We plan to start making our way back west towards Gibraltar.

A few pics of the marina where Three Sheets is docked and of the City of Marmaris which is nearby and travelled to by the local bus. Most of these pics were taken when the gang was here visting in October.

Travelled via a larger boat to the Dalyan River area where we got onto smaller boats. Toured the river and checked out the tombs built into the cliff face. Had a mud bath. Very crazy and likely my last, ha ha

This place was amazing. It would have been a major hub, especially when it was actually a port. You can imagine how old this city is simply based on the fact that the harbour is completely silted in (that takes a lot of time) and the sea is over a mile away.

Reg said it all, WIND. As I can't actually photograph the wind you will have to take his word for it. Emma and our are both appreciative of Reg staying with the boat so we could go to Santorini worry free. Ios was a young people's party place and they came in droves on these hug ferries that caused us great alarm with their wake smushing us up against the dock....yes we did try to move but almost impossible...

Even though we only spend one day on Folegandros we really enjoyed the hike, the village and the views. Sikinos was very windy, although comfortable (no rolling) we did not really get a chance to enjoy anything there. We did make it to the beach once but it was very uncomfortable with sand blowing everywhere. Another time perhaps

We actually went to this site twice, the first time it was closed and the weather was pretty cold and rainy. The second time it was open and beautiful. Obviously people do get tired of seeing ruins etc but hopefully you can use your imagination to see what this huge fortress was like so many years ago. The views were spectacular and the site chosen for obvious reasons, you could see your emenies by sea or land.

Some pics of Poros, where we arrived and then drove to Athens to pick up Emma. After that a few day trips, Epidavros twice, Acrocorinth Fortress and some really nice scenic driving. Kithnos was our first Island with Emma and we really enjoyed it except for the delay re our prop shaft issue. Even though it was a big costly inconvenience for us it was nice to know that the Greek Coast Guard was listening and were there to help if it had been a more dangerous situation. I had quite a discussion with them regarding the meaning of PAN PAN but was unable to convince them that it was not the same as a MAY DAY!!!

Apparently the most expensive canal in the world, per foot!! Sure seemed like it to us but it did save a lot of time and fuel if we had had to go around. It was a good experience, a little nerve wracking but I am sure just standard stuff to the Greeks.

We anchored in Galaxadhi (for some reason I did not take any pictures of the town!) and used the bus to go and see the Delphi Oracle. Very well done museum and archealogical site. A very beautiful place and the views were fantastic. You almost feel like a "God" yourself way up there!!!

Pics of first stop in Greece, Argostoli, Cephanlonia. Great spot with great provisions, good food and the best feta cheese I have ever had. Traditional greek feta is made with sheep and goats milk or you can get just sheeps milk as well. The turtles around the fishing boats were amazing and the tourists were really enjoying them. Not sure how much fish was being sold!!!

This was an active volcano and you could have a sulpur mud bath if so inclined. The great part is we hooked up with our friends from San Francisco, Jennifer, Darold and Dante. We met these folks in the San Blas Islands Panama in 2014. It was great to be able to catch up!!!

Pics of our stay in the city of Cagliari. Big city, nice people and good supplies. Really enjoyed our tour of the museum. Pics of our anchorage which was very beautiful and quiet. Had a couple of great walks into town and up into the hills

This time when we stopped in Dublin to visit Emma on the way back to the boat we rented a car and headed for Northern Ireland. Really wanted to see the Giants Causeway. We visited castles, abbys, and old stuff!!! Belfast was interesting and had a wonderful museum about "the troubles". It was very well done and told the story of both sides. I learned a lot of things I really did not know or understand. There is still a little undercurrent between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Ireland is a wonderful place to visit!!!

Here are a few pics when my sister Marg visited with us in Barcelona last October. We had a great time. Marg experienced the sailing life as we sailed from Barcelona to the Island of Menorca. We spent a few days there touring the Island. We sailed back to Roda de Bara where we left the boat for the winter. These were overnight sails both time and Marg was a real trooper especially when our Auto pilot quit. Thanks for coming to see us Marg it was a great trip...

The confluence of civilizations as well as its strategic harbour, together the rise of the local mining industry is manifested by a unique artistic heritage, with a number of landmarks such as the Roman Theatre, the second largest of the Iberian Peninsula after the one in Mérida, an abundance of Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine and Moorish remains, and a plethora of Art Nouveau buildings, a result of the bourgeoisie from the early 20th century. Well thats what they said in Wiki, ha ha. Anyway we were really surprised as the entrance to the harbour and the harbour itself not that attractive. However, just like it says the museums, the history and the buildings are fantastic.

The Alhambra: Part fortress (the Alcazaba), part palace (Palacios Nazaries), part garden (the Generalife) and part government city (the Medina), this medieval complex overlooking Granada is one of the top attractions in Spain, with many visitors coming to Granada expressly to see the Alhambra. The last Moorish stronghold in Europe, the Alhambra reflects the splendor of Moorish civilization in Andalusia and offers the visitor splendid ornamental architecture, spectacular and lush gardens, cascading and dripping water features, and breathtaking views of the city.
There is just so much to see in here and it would take to long to describe everything but it is something that you should see if you decide to take the trip to Spain....

The Moorish conquest of 711 brought Islamic rule to the Iberian Peninsula and Granada was quickly established as one of the main cities of Al-Andalus, the Muslim name for the region. New agricultural practices were introduced as the old Roman infrastructure was put to use for irrigation, leading to a major expansion of the city as it grew from the river valley up to the hills currently occupied by the Alhambra and the Albayzín, with a major Jewish settlement, the Realejo, existing within the town. Following the fall of Córdoba in 1236 to the Christian Reconquista, the city became the capital of the Emirate of Granada, and for the next 250 years Granada stood as the heart of a powerful and self-sufficient kingdom with the construction of the royal palace and fortress, the Alhambra.
Skirmishes continued between the Emirate of Granada and the Crown of Castile, and in the late 15th century the Christian Reconquista set its sights on Granada. Following a military campaign led by King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, which included a siege of the walled town, King Boabdil of Granada was ultimately forced to surrender the town in 1492, bringing an end to Moorish rule in the Iberian peninsula and marking the end of the Reconquista.
It is an amazing city and not far away you can go skiiing in the mountains. We only spent a few days here but I think you could use at least one week to really check out everything.

We arrived in Motril which is where we decided to leave the boat and take the bus to Granada and the Alhambra. It was a neat little place with no tourists!!! Nice yacht club and people were friendly. Emma took this series of pictures one morning while Reg and I slept away. I think it is a snowy egret (yellow feet) fishing for his early morning breakfast, with good results...

It never entered my mind that we would visit Morocco. When we realized how close we were we decided we had to give it a go. Especially when it was so easy to sail to Ceuta and then take a bus. I must say the trip was too short so we just had a tiny tiny taste!!!

We left Gibraltar and sailed over to Ceuta which is a small territory in Morroco belonging to Spain. Wow wonder what the politcs are there!!! Anyway we really enjoyed this place. It was nice, people were friendly. We stayed in a marina as there was no place to anchor. We also travelled from here by bus to Morroco but that is another album!!

Cádiz, the oldest continuously-inhabited city in Spain and one of the oldest in southwestern Europe,[1][2] has been a principal home port of the Spanish Navy since the accession of the Spanish Bourbons in the 18th century. The city is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network.
We met up with a friend of Emma's, David and his two boys.
David also took us around the city in the evening to enjoy Tapas.
David and the two boys opted to travel with us to Sancti-Petri where we would drop them off to meet up with his parents who spend their summers there.
A little uncomfortable for the new sailors in a green sort of way but they soldiered on and we made it in time to spend some time on the beach.
We enjoyed a very nice dinner compliments of David's family.
The anchorage itself was a bit scary as the current was incredibly strong and you had to go in at high tide. Fortunately they had mooring balls and they assisted us to tie up.
When we left we had the motor running as high as it could and we barely made two knots out to the ocean!!!

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. It has an area of 2.3 square miles and a northern border with the Province of Cádiz in Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region. At its foot is a densely populated city area, home to almost 30,000 Gibraltarians and other nationalities.
The territory was ceded to Britain "in perpetuity" under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. I am pretty sure Spain is not too happy about that today. There are certainly issues especially around fishing rights.
Most of the Rock's upper area is covered by a nature reserve which is home to around 230 Barbary Macaques, the famous apes of Gibraltar, albeit that biologists insist that technically the apes are wild monkeys. These are the only wild apes or monkeys found in Europe. They are classified as endangered and three quarters of the population actually live in the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Across the border is La Linea where we anchored. It was free to anchor there and much less expensive then trying to get into a marina on either side.
A lot of people go back and forth every day to and from work.
We did the typical sight seeing on "The Rock". It was an amazing amount of walking so we were pretty sore and tired but really glad we did it.
To get to the area you cross the border and then walk across the airport where the planes actually land and take off. If you stop they come over the loud speaker and tell you to keep moving!!!! Lots of people trying to stop and take pictures.
It was a good stop for us as we got fuel on the way out at half the price of anywhere else, YAY!!!!

Time to move on and start heading to Spain. This was our last stop in Portugal and it was a neat anchorage. The beach was amazing and lots of shells!!!
Culatra Island is an island in the Algarve, Portugal. It is divided into three parts: Farol, Hângares and Culatra. We only stayed in the anchorage, visited the little village, walked the boardwalk and spent time on the beach. It is a very popular sport for Spanish Tourists who come by the droves in ferries to spend the day on the beach.

After we left Coimbra we stopped at these old Roman Ruins on the way back to Portimao. Conímbriga is one of the largest Roman settlements in Portugal, and is classified as a National Monument.
Like many archaeological sites, Conímbriga was built in layers. The archaeological evidence tells us that Conímbriga was inhabited, at least, between the 9th century BC and 7th / 8th century AD.[1]
The name Conimbriga derives from an early, possibly pre-Indo-European element meaning "rocky height or outcrop" and the Celtic briga, signifying a defended place.[2] Others think that the element coni may be related to the Conii people.
When the Romans arrived, in the first half of the 2nd century BC, Conímbriga was a flourishing village. Of course they wasted no time in taking over as they spread their empire.
Judging by the capacity of the amphitheater, the city had an estimated population of 10600.
Following the deep political and administrative crisis of the Empire, Conímbriga suffered the consequences of the barbaric invasions. In 465 and 468. Can you imagine something that old!!!
Although Conimbriga was not the largest Roman city in Portugal, it is the best preserved. Archaeologists estimate that only 10 percent of the city has been excavated until the early 2000s. This site is a work in progress but was definitely worth the visit.

Once we picked up Emma we headed back to the boat. We stopped in Coimbra and walked around the city visiting the botanical gardens (mostly abandoned now do to austerity measures) and the Machado Museum. It was a interesting place and also house a famous university which we visited.

Of course we had to visit Porto where all that good Porto is made!!! it is the second largest city second to Lisbon. It is a world heritage center and is famous for the Douro River wineries. The interesting part is that the City of Gaia across the river is where Port is really made. All of the port houses are located there. The name Port sounds better than Gaia so the name stuck even though there is no port made in Porto. It is an amazing place and full of tourists. This is where we picked up Emma to bring her back the boat.

We spent a few days here and there on our own and with Emma and Alia. It was a very sheltered basin which could only be entered and exited at high tide due to some sand bars. It was also the premier spot for kite boarding and wind surfing. A great little town but like all of the Algarve touristy.

This is Cape St Vincent which was called the end of the world back in the old sailing days. People thought this was it until the explorers set sail for the other side of the world. We came in so early in the morning that we did not see it very well and it was a bit overcast but it was a neat feeling.

A few pics of the anchorage in Portimao. We stayed there while we took a trip to Porto. This was our best internet spot at a local cafe and we had free dockage for our dinghy at the yacht club which was very nice. Very touristy place and really loud music every night sometimes until 4 am

Well I am very very behind in my photo albums. I am going to start with our arrival in Portugal from the Azores. A few pics of the town, and the grottos. Lagos was a tourist place. The marina was good and everything was very convenient. This is where Peter and Mike took a bus to Lisboa and flew back home. We spent quite a bit of time here while we hung out and waited for Emma, Alia and Mike to come and join us for a visit. Now if we could only convince the other kids to come too!!!!!

We were delayed so we decided to take the ferry to Pico and rent a car. We tried to see as much as we could while we were there. It was quite different than Faial - much more laid back. There are a lot of grapes grown here.

This was a fascinating lighthouse and story around the volcano that erupted over a period of 13 months with the big one happening in 1959 which caused a lot of destruction. An interesting story after this a lot of people from here were invited to come to the United States and Canada to start over. Apparently is was very good for the island as it was overpopulated and things were not good. I guess this explains why there are strong communities of Portuguese people in Canada

A album dedicated to my sister's Eva and Marg who both love horses. They roamed free in South Caicos and on Grand Turk. I am sure they were owned by someone but it was really cool to see them and feed them some treats!!! (Carrots and Apples)

When we turned around from our Bermuda attempt we headed back to Grand Turk. This is the capital of the Turks and Caicos and also where the cruise ships come in. We were there about a week and saw at least 6 ships come in. Not too much going on here except for government stuff and the tourists from the ships. I am pretty sure that is the only industry here. It was still a cool place to see.

One of the anchorages in the Turks and Caicos Islands, also the place where we checked into the country. Rustic but still suffering from hurricane in 2008. People were friendly. This is where I took the pics of the flamingos in the wild.

This is the area we sailed east from Cienfuego to Santiago de Cuba. It is a series of mangrove and sand islands along a reef. It was very beautiful and remote. We traveled with the British couple from the sailing vessel Emma Louise.

A steep walk uphill (444 steps) with great views to the lighthouse and church at the top. I am sorry the pictures are a bit out of order but you get the idea how lovely the scenery is on the way up and on the way down!!!